Walmart dangles 17% bump in starting wage

New model: Workers stock the shelves at a Walmart store in Miami, Florida. The Arkansas-based company has been increasing wages and benefits in recent years, as retailers and other low-wage employers struggle to fill jobs. — AFP

NEW YORK: Walmart Inc, the largest private-sector employer in the United States, is raising its starting wage 17% after a surge in inflation last year and heightened competition for workers.

The lowest initial wage will jump to US$14 (RM60) an hour from US$12 (RM51) next month, Walmart said in an email.